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Stress Echocardiogram
What is a stress echocardiogram?
A stress echocardiogram,
or stress echo, is a test that helps your doctor
see how well your heart pumps when it is made to work harder.
Using a small hand-held device (called a transducer) which is
moved over your chest, sound waves are bounced off your heart
and the "echo" of those sound
waves
is
captured
and turned into images on a monitor.
The images show the structure
and movement of your heart before and
after you exercise. These before and after images provide
your doctor valuable information about the way your heart is
functioning when you are at rest and when you work.
Before your stress
echocardiogram:
Click
here to see if you should withhold any medications prior
to your test. Don't eat, drink, smoke, or have any caffeine
for 3 hours before your test. Make sure you wear a two-piece
outfit and walking shoes, you may need to undress from the
waist up and put on a gown.
What to expect:
Before you start the test, small electrodes
are placed on your chest to monitor your heartbeat while
you exercise. Then, you will lie down and have a first
set of "echo" images taken. You will then walk
on a treadmill* until your heart is beating at a certain
rate. Once your heart is beating fast enough, you get off the
treadmill
and a second set of images of your heart is immediately
taken. The doctor then displays
the two sets of images side by side to compare the way your
heart
functions at rest and after exercise.
After the test, your heart
rate
and
blood pressure will be monitored until they are back to normal and you are not
feeling any signs of discomfort.
*If you are unable to exercise on
a treadmill you will be given a medication to make your heart
beat faster as if you were exercising.
Report any symptoms:
Be sure to tell the doctor if you feel any of the following
during the test:
- Chest, arm, or jaw discomfort
- Severe shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Leg cramps or soreness
After your test:
As soon as the test is over, you may eat and return to your
normal routine.
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